Renaldo09 wrote:Our Lock Pick Sets are from the best manufacturers and are top quality. Lock Picking Sets come in many sizes and are available in all price ranges. Be careful that when choosing your first lock Lockpicking set you don't use price as your only consideration, because the very first Lockpick Set is likely to last you a good long time and if you pick one with only a few tools in it you're going to want to buy another one before long in order to get hold of a larger variety of pick styles. Better to begin with a moderate sized set and put off that additional purchase for a couple of years. Choose from a huge variety of excellent, professional lock pick sets from manufacturers such as Southord and HPC. We offer professional lockpicking tools in stainless steel and in spring steel. There are also a few pick sets that combine both, such HPC's ProMixer. Lock picks are essential to any locksmith business and we strive to offer only the best at the lowest possible prices. As a leading Locksmith Supply we pride ourselves on selecting the most relevant products for the Locksmith and Security Industries, not to mention the ever-growing hobby sector. Lock picking, in fact, has long been a thriving hobby in many countries of the world, though it is only recently that U.S. clubs have begun to spring up . . . largely as a result of the Internet.
Humm, not sure what squelchy will think of a some blatant advertising for a first post (or any post for that matter), but since there's some advice in all that, I'd like to give some opinion on those points. Even with advertising, I have no idea of your business since there's (thankfully) no link.
Anyhow, my own experience certainly doesn't match what you're saying Renaldo, so I'll just add something to the mix for Zanazyr. While my first set is still with me, it's been adapted and dropped from use as I've found tools that would suit me better. In fact, any set will contain picks that you will not use or find a good connection with. They'll just get dumped to the bottom drawer leaving space in your case for other stuff.
From that point of view, I'd suggest that a beginner do something like this: buy something like a Southord case such as the C3010, and a selection of hooks, a couple of diamonds and a rake or 2, and make some perfectly respectable tension tools from windshield wiper inserts. Say total 10 picks and the 6 or 8 tension tools.
I say this because a case larger than the picks you have allows for growth, and as a beginner I believe the temptation to buy bits is far too great to resist! It certainly was in my case! That's not a bad thing as it allows for experimentation, which in turns allows for growth in confidence and understanding. You will add and make picks/tools to your set as your taste and needs develop. With a case that's got plenty of room (for now!), you can do that. you'll also get to learn through experience about what is a waste of money! I've got no shortage of shiny bits that just fell by the wayside, along with a wish that I'd never bought it.
Secondly, I wanna say that while rakes have a limited place in any kit, they will teach you almost nothing about what's going on inside a lock. Hooks and diamonds on the other hand will teach you a whole lot. My preference is for hooks as there's so much variety out there to fit different circumstances, but I also have a favorite diamond I won't leave home without. Southord and HPC are great picks for a beginner.
Thirdly, one of the keys to your picking is not the picks, but the tension tools and how you apply tension. In my opinion, it's far more important than the picks themselves. With that in mind, you're really can't have too many tension tools to fit different keyways and circumstances.
And lastly, all picks are completely useless without a huge amount of practice. Practice, practice, practice.
Anyhow, that's my 2 cents. Hopefully, it's helpful.